Condenser



R- N. EHRHART AND H. M. GRAHAM.

CONDENSER.

- APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8. 1918. 1,332,188. Patented Feb. 24,1920.

I7 m I INVENTORj WIT S 1 C/ YMUM w v WZ/ THE/l? ATTRNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND N.

GRAHAM, OF ST. JOHNS, QUEBEC, T310 80 MANUFACTURING 00.. A

EHRHART. OF EDGEWOOD PARK,

CANADA, ASSIGNOBS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PENNSYLVANIA, AND HAROLD M.

CONDENSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24., 1920.

Application filed January 8, 1918. Serial No.- 210,917.

To all whom it'mag concern:

Be it known that we, RAYMOND N. Enn- HART, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park. Pennsylvania, and HAROLD M. GRAHAM, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a member of the Canadian Army, St. J ohns, Quebec, Canada, have made a new and useful Invention in Condensers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to condensers and has for an object to produce a new and improved condenser in which insulated air passages are provided for the withdrawal of air and other non-condensable gases and vapors from the condenser.

A further object is to produce a condenser in which air is withdrawn from substantially the coldest part thereof and in which means are provided for preventing the air from taking up heat from the condenser as it passes to the air ofitake port inthe condenser shell.

A further object isto produce a condenser which is provided with an insulated air ofitake passage which extends from the coldest part of the condenser to an air port in the shell of the condenser.

These and other objects are attained by means of a condenser embodying the features herein described and illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming a part. hereof.

In some types of condensers the air is withdrawn through an air ofli'take passage extending well within the nest of cooling tubes and connected to an air ofitake port in the condenser shell. In some condensers this passage extends upwardly from the air intake within the nest bf tubes and through the steam'inlet passage to the condenser and communicates with the air offtake port in the side of the condenser shell. This arrangement of the passage passage is self-draining and requires no trap or other device to free it of water. However, it has the disadvantage in thatthe passage extends through the hottest part of the condenser and the air is therefore heated and-increased in volume as it traverses the passage. In order to reduce thework of the air pump, which withdraws the air from the condenser,

simplifies the piping connections to the condenser because the and to thereby improve the eificiency of the installation it is desirable to have the air leaving the condenser as cool as possible.

In carrying out our invention, in connection with a condenser of the type described. we provide means for preventing the heat of the condenser being communicated to the air traversing the air ofitake passage. With such a construction the passage may be located in the most desirableposition within the condenser. and at the same time the disadvantage of having the air heated in its passage from the condenser is eliminated.

The'drawing is a diagrammatic sectional view of a condenser embodying our invention. The condenser illustrated is of the radial flow type having a horizontal cylindrical shell 5 inclosing an eccentrically located nest of cooling tubes 6 and provided at the top with a steam inlet port 7. A steam passage 8 places the port 7 in direct communication withsubstantially the Whole periphcry of the nest of tubes 6 and consequently the steam flows in substantially radial directions through the tubes and toward a centrally located air ofitake port 9.

As shown'the port 9 forms the inlet to a vertical air passage 10 which extends upwardly through the nest of tubes 6 into the I steam inlet passage 8 and then laterally to shell 5 of the condenser. where it terminates in an outlet port 11. The major portion of the passagewav 10 is preferably vertical, as shown. so as to interfere as little as possible with the flow of steam into the condenser. Furthermore by having it extend from its inlet upwardly instead of downwardly the piping may be simplified, since the air withdrawn will be substantially free from water. As illustrated, the air ofitake port 9 is located in the center of the nest of tubes 6 at the coldest part of the condenser, while the air ofitake passage 10 extendsup into. and through the steam passage 8, which is, of course, the hottest part of the condenser. In order to prevent the air from being heated and thereby expanded as it is drawn through the passage 10, we have shown the passage 10 inclosed within cellular walls 12 which insulate the passag The hollow spaces 13 in the cellular walls 12 may be filled with any kind 0t insulating material; for example, dead air or asbestos. The insulation prevents the relatively cool air traversing the passage from absorbing heat from hotter portions of the condenser. In the drawings we have shown means for circulating water through the shell surrounding the air passage. The cooling'water not only prevents a heat transfer from the condenser to the passage, but further cools the air before it is delivered to the air pump. As shown, water may be delivered to the space 13 through an inlet 15, and withdrawn through an outlet 16. he piping communicating with the inlet and outlet ports 15 and 16 may conveniently be so connected with the water boxes of the condenser that water is Withdrawn from one water box and discharged into the other.

The inclosing walls of the air otftake passages usually consist of large flat metal sheets and therefore readily transmit heat to the air passing through the passage. By so forming these walls that they are capable of preventing or at least reducing the transfer of heat from the condenser to the air traversing the air passage, all the advantages of the condenser design illustrated may be retained without the disadvantage of having air heated during its removal from the condenser. Therefore the air may be withdrawn from the coolest part of the condenser without being heated and expanded before it is discharged from the condenser. The efliciency of the installation is correspondingly im roved.

1le we have escribed and illustrated but one embodiment of our invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and'scope of the invention as set forth by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In combination in a condenser, a shell, a nest of cooling tubes inclosed within the shell, an air offtake extending well into the nest of tubes, and means for preventing a heat transfer from the condenser to the fluid traversing said air ofitake.

2. In combination in a condenser, a shell, a nest of COOliIlg tubes inclosed within the shell, an air ofi'take extending through the steam space within the condenser and into the nest of cooling tubes, and means for preventing a transfer of heat from the hotter portions of the condenser to the fluid traversing the ofltake.

3. In combination in a surface condenser, a Water cooled air ofltake.

at. In combination with a condenser, a water cooled air ofi'take passage extending from a cooler portion of the condenser through a warmer portion thereof to an air ofl'take port formed in the shell of the condenser.

5. In combination with a condenser hav ing an air ofi'take passage. means for preventing a transfer of heat from the fluids to be condensed to the fluids passing through said passage.

6. In combination with a condenser having an air ofi'take passage extending from Within the condenser at least to the shell thereof, means for substantially preventing a transfer of heat between the fluids in the condenser and the fluids passing through said ofl'take passage.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of O0- tober, 1917.

RAYMOND N. EHRHART. Witnesses:

C. W. MCGHEE, M. B. GORDON. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22nd day of December, 1917.

HAROLD M. GRAHAM. Witnesses:

EDITH SULLIVAN, Sauna M. Pm'rrs. 

